Author : Muhammad Khan.
No. of Pages: 306.
Publisher: Pan Macmillan.
ISBN : 1509874054.
Price: 399 INR.
About the Book
Fifteen-year-old Muzna Saleem, who dreams of being a writer, struggles with controlling parents who only care about her studying to be a doctor. Forced to move to a new school in South London after her best friend is shamed in a scandal, Muzna realizes that the bullies will follow her wherever she goes. But deciding to stand and face them instead of fighting her instinct to disappear is harder than it looks when there's prejudice everywhere you turn. Until the gorgeous and confident Arif shows an interest in her, encouraging Muzna to explore her freedom.
But Arif is hiding his own secrets and, along with his brother Jameel, he begins to influence Muzna with their extreme view of the world. As her new freedom starts to disappear, Muzna is forced to question everything around her and make a terrible choice - keep quiet and betray herself, or speak out and betray her heart?
But Arif is hiding his own secrets and, along with his brother Jameel, he begins to influence Muzna with their extreme view of the world. As her new freedom starts to disappear, Muzna is forced to question everything around her and make a terrible choice - keep quiet and betray herself, or speak out and betray her heart?
Book Review
The book is about Muzna
Saleem, a 15 year old British Born Pakistani Muslim girl who has been raised by
conservative parents , who love her to the core but are always controlling her
life.
The day Muzna was born
it was declared that she would become a Doctor after her A levels. Muzna writes
stories in her spare time and dreams of becoming a writer as her friend Salma
mentions “you don’t hear of many Muslim authors, do you?”
Muzna is that kid who is overtly introverted and shy not
conversing to anyone and expressing her thoughts freely except for her best friend,
as a result she’s bullied in her school for her health and she faces racism due
to the increasing terror of Islamic States in the UK.
Due to some unpredicted circumstances Muzna has to change her
school and when she starts in her new school, she decides to let the world know
of her writing talent and in the process is acquainted with a charming British
Pakistani boy Arif.
Arif’s sudden interest in her life sweeps her over her feet
and she begins to explore a path she never would have chosen. Unknown to her
she is the victim of radicalization by Arif and his brother. At every step she
is well aware that something is wrong but is overly protective of Arif and his love
for her.
This book is so intense and gripping and it surely gives you
a peek of reality of how young blood like Arif and Muzna is exploited in the
name of religion and faith. Every day we hear that some teenager has joined
hands with Islamic States and wonder what made him take such an extreme step.
This book gives you the exact idea of how teenagers are being
brainwashed by extremists and are made to believe that you are serving the God.
I feel everyone should read this book irrespective of age, gender and faith.
Overall I loved this book as it has touched various elements that
exist in our day to day lives.
Rating: 4.5/5
About The Author
Muhammad Khan is a maths teacher in a secondary school in Tooting and takes his inspiration from the children he teaches, as well as his own upbringing as a British-born Pakistani. He lives in South London and will be studying for a creative writing MA next year at Roehampton.
Thanks to the wonderful folks at Pan Macmillan India for sending me the book in exchange of an honest review.
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